It's Official...

It's official, summer is over. It was 35 degrees this morning outside my window and I heard there was snow in the foothills. I didn't see it because Horsetooth Rock was socked in behind the clouds. That's okay, it will come down here soon enough.

Today I actually did get out and run a total of 10 miles, first a couple with the girls, who are enjoying the cooler weather. I felt pretty comfortable in a warm pair of tights and a long sleeved running top under my fleece jacket.

Then I went down the Power Trail for another 8 or so, and on my way down there I ran into my friend Dan, who just retired from the Park Service this week. Dan was on my crew at Badwater in 2011, he's had a long career with the National Park Service and did a lot of work in Death Valley. He's trying out his new role as retiree, and trying to figure out what's next. He's been pretty much consumed by work the past 2 years, so it's a great relief to him and I'm glad to see him free and able to get back to the fun stuff in life again.

My left hip is still giving me fits but I think I just need to get warmed up and stretch more, and maybe more massage. I've had two visits to the chiropractor and it really isn't doing much. He hasn't even been able to pop me, I am stiff and not moving very well. I probably just need to take hot showers before I stretch, and hang out in the hot tub, which unfortunately is not working right now. I have another appointment with the chiro dude, who is really sort of a dork, early next week but I'm not so sure I'll keep it. I might be wasting my time and money.

I have my doubts that a chiropractor is going to do much for me that I can't do myself, since I already solved the problem on my own in the past. I do have a plan B, someone Wheaties Boy recommended. I'll resort to that if I don't get myself more flexible and moving better in the next week.

I finished my damn review course online, I spent 6 hours on it yesterday and got it all done, passed the test by the skin of my teeth, and now at least I have that hurdle out of the way. I might change the date of my certification exam to later, which means next year. I am tired of stressing about it.

I've had a chance to do a little reflection on what all is contributing to the way I've felt lately. I feel like I need something for me.

When I look back over the past year, I've given a lot of myself to a couple of close friends who lost people in their lives to cancer, in terms of time, energy, listening, caring, worrying, supporting, love, and so on. When you add that on top of a job that requires a lot of listening, caring, supporting, and energy every day for patients, after a while it does wear on you.

I also know a lot of people in the community who are dealing with cancer and I've given as much support to them as I can. Lately I haven't even been able to make it to the support group that I normally enjoy attending, because I feel like I can't give any more support. I need some myself.

I think I'm just a little depleted at the current moment and need to put something back. Compassion fatigue is the technical term my profession uses. I call it mild burnout. Add a little hormonal imbalance to all of that, and you end up with a crazy person. Which is what I've become.

So today I decided to do something nice for myself and went over to REI and went shopping in the girls section for a few new things to wear. I got 3 new bright colored shirts and a skirt. I used a coupon and my dividend, too. The skirt was from the adult section- I'm not going to pretend I can fit into girls sizes below my waist.

Something interesting I noticed though. I always shop in their kids section, and it is a great option for me for things like long underwear and t-shirts and stuff, the prices are so much lower than the adult items, and I'm small enough to fit into a girls large. Except today I bought a kids top there that was a medium!

I guess I'm reaping the benefits of obesification.

Tomorrow morning it's supposed to snow. The homecoming 5K is at 8 am. I haven't signed up. The only way I'm doing it is if I wake up super early and I have time enough to warm up really well, and the roads can't be slick, either. Call me a fair weather runner, but it's true. I don't want to freeze, I'm not used to it yet. If I feel good enough, I'll be doing 20 miles tomorrow. Maybe I can get my stiff body to crack and pop in all the right places.

I'm enjoying being outside for now, with the cool temperatures and all the colors.

And after I run tomorrow, I have two things on the agenda. One, cleaning out the hot tub so we can refill it and get it repaired, and two, going out with a girlfriend to drink a few margaritas or beers and blow off some steam!